CANNABIS OIL CANADA: TOP 10

THC • September 26, 2018

by Sheppy P

Contributing Writer

THC

September 26, 2018

CANNABIS OIL CANADA

When it comes to Cannabis oil or Hash oil as it’s sometimes called, there is a lot more to consider than just what it looks like or how high the THC content is. From the method of the extraction to the Marijuana plant material that goes in it, each step of the process can have a significant impact on the quality of the final product. With so many new techniques coming to the market as regulations change and producers get more creative all around the world, our job is to know the safest, strongest and most effective ways to consume Cannabis recreationally or medicinally.

How was it grown?

Chemical Pesticides: Health is a very important aspect to any strain and you can’t it can’t be healthy with a bunch of toxic chemicals covering it. Using chemicals as a growing technique is generally frowned upon and a good dispensary will know this detail.

Flushing Prior To Harvest: Without proper pure water flushing before the harvest you will always get a subpar product. We ensure that all growers properly flush their plants prior to harvest for at least 2 weeks. This increases the THC potency and removes leftover nutrients from the flowering stage of growth. Our oils burn clean without extra carbon or nitrogen that can ruin the taste.

EXTRACTION METHODS

Butane hash oil extraction (BHO): BHO is one of the most common methods on extraction for cannabis at this time. Butane as you may be familiar with is a gas used in cigarette lighters. When under pressure the gas forms a liquid which when combined with cannabis plant material in closed loop system will leech cannabis oil out of the plant. Although this method is generally safe for experienced extraction artists it does run the risk of explosion and serious injury. Post extraction, the compound is released from the pressure chamber and goes through multiple purges to remove the Butane. Not all the butane can always be removed and some prefer not to use this method for Oral Cannabis products.

CO2 Supercritical extraction: CO2 extraction is achieved through the use of high pressure and very low temperatures. One of the more technical ways to extract cannabis oil it requires the use of special machinery to compress and turn Carbon Dioxide gas into its liquid form which is then pushed through the Cannabis Plant material removing the oils from it. This process has a number of benefits over traditional solvent extraction processes but the main one is that it doesn’t use a dangerous solvent. CO2, once it’s brought back to room temperature and pressure, just evaporates away on its own with no additional purges needed to purify the oil.

Heat Press (Rosin): One of the simplest ways to extract cannabis oil from Marijuana is the Rosin method. At its core all that is needed is heat and pressure. There are a number of ways you can prep the flowers (or not in the case of Live Rosin) to get more out of them but they are all basically the same. The final product requires no solvents so there are no health concerns with exposure to butane or other hydrocarbon compounds. With whole plant presses it also can appear with a slight greenish hue to the oil produced or if the trichomes are separated with a sieve it will come out more clear.

Ice Water Sieve (Hash): This method doesn’t so much produce oil but rather a resin crumble that some prefer over oil when it comes to smoking Cannabis. The whole plant material is placed in ice water that lowers the temperature of the plant and by extension the Trichomes. At this lower temperature the Trichomes become brittle and break away from the leaves and flowers. They then sink to the bottom of the mixture and through a series of different filters and sieves the final product comes out as a crumbly resin that when warmed slightly will start to liquefy.

OUR TOP WEED EXTRACT CHOICES

Rosin: The final product from the heat press extract method. This style of Cannabis oil has recently started gaining popularity due to its simplicity and lack of any type of solvent used in it. People like that it doesn’t use any chemicals, especially those who use Marijuana oil for medical reasons. Rosin can be consumed orally (Gel Capsules), mixed with honey to form a tincture and taken sublingually, or smoked on a dab setup or in a vape pen.

Live Resin: Getting its name from the fact that the plant material is still living when the extraction process is started, this extraction method typically uses the Ice Water method. Praised for its purity and lack of chemical solvents this is another extract that is popular with the medical marijuana community

Supercritical CO2 vapour pens: Next to Cannabis Oil gel caps, vape pens have to be one of the most discreet ways to enjoy cannabis products. Functioning basically the same as their nicotine cousins, vape pens are perfect for on the go as an alternative to smoking. Using a process referred to as atomization the vape pen has a coil that is heated to a temperature that turns the Hash Oil into a vapour containing tiny molecule sized droplets of the oil that is then inhaled. With no actual fire or burning of the oil these pens are touted as a safer alternative to smoking joints or bongs.

Tinctures: This oral consumption method for Marijuana oil is typically mixed with honey and administered via a plastic syringe type tool or an eyedropper. Great for adding to food or drink, some put it in their tea or coffee to start the day or you can just put a drop under your tongue for faster absorption.

Budder: Similar to live resin but made from cured flowers this wax like substance is high in THC and is easy to manage. The Ice Water method used in this process ensures no solvents are left in the product so it is a clean and healthy way to consume cannabis. Some prefer this product over oils as it is in a solid form and therefore much easier to transport.